Starting device for internal-combustion engines.



J. B. DIGKEY.

STARTING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. urmonmn mum 111:0. e,1909.

958,909. 1 Patented M84124, 1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. DICKEY, or COLUMBUS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-EIGHTH, T0 WILLIAMw. DENISON AND ONE-EIGHTH T0 WALLACE B. DENISON, BOTH 0F COLUMBUS,

IHDIANA.

STARTING DEVICE FOR INTEBNiLL-CQMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specificatidxfof Letters Ilatent. P t nted M 2%, 1910.

Application filed December 9, 1909. Serial No. 532,218.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. Dream, a citizen of the United States,residing at C0- lumbus, in the county of Bartholomew and State ofIndiana, have invented'a newand useful Starting Device forInternal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.V

This invention relates to that class of starting devices for internalcombustion engines which are manually operated, and it is" the object ofthe invention to provide an improved device of this kind which will beauthe accompanying drawing forming a part of this-specification, inwhich drawin Figure l isa longitudinal section of the device. Fig. 2 isa transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, 5 denotes the crank shaft of the engine, and 6 is anaxially alined starting shaft, which is manually operable by a mechanismto be presently described. One end of the starting shaft 6 has a sockethead 7 adapted. to be placed over the adjacent end of the crank shaft 5,the two shafts *being coupled together by providing the Wall of thesocket head with a slot 8 extending obliquely to the axis of thestarting shaft, and entered by a laterally projecting pin 9 carried bythe crank shaft. The startlng shaft is movable in the direction of itslength, so that it will be automatically disconnected froin the crankshaft when the engine starts, the engagement of the pin 9 with one ofthe inclined walls of the slot causing the starting shaft to back awayfrom the crank shaft until said shafts are disconnected by the'pinleaving the slot. The opposite end of the starting shaft 6 is reduced asindicated at (10, and on this portion of the shaft is loosely mounted ashaft 11 having in one of its ends an axial pening 12 to receiresaid-reduceder'd of the starting shaft. The M O itB end f .the shaft llis fitted with a hand crank 13.- Theseltwo shafts are menial alinement.

The end of the shaft 11 into which the retends, is formed with acircular enlargement or head it havin a peripheral groove 15. The headis also bored out to form a circular recess 16 sufliciently la toreceive a ratchet disk 17 which is keyed or otherwise made fast to thestarting shaft. 'lhefenlargement 14: of the shaft 11 is inclosed in acasing comprising a cylindrical portion 18, and heads 19 are fastened tothe ends thereof. The

heads are formed with hub extensions 20 one of which supports thestarting shaft, andthe other one the shaft 11. This casing is mounted ona suitable base 21 the latter beingsecured to the frame of the machinein any side.

a In the groove 15 at diametrically opposite points, are pivoted bymeans of pins 22 extending across the groove, levers 23,, said leversbeing pivotally mounted intermediate their ends. Each lever carries atits ends pivoted dogs 24 and 25 respectively, extending in opposite.direction. The dogs 24 pass looselyflthrough openings 26 in the head 14:so as to extend into the recess 16, into engagement withfhe teeth of theratchet disk 17. The dogs 25 extend in a direction to engage ratchetteeth 27 formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 18 ofthe casing, they being held normally in engagenent with said teeth bymeans of a sprlng 28 secured to the lever and"pressing aganist the backof the dogs. The ends of the levers :23 which carry the dogs 24 areengaged by a spring 29, which swin 's the levers in a direction to, holdsaid dog 1n engagement with the teeth of the ratchet disk 17.

The shaft-'11 moves in the-direction of its length with the startingshaft 6 when the latter is disconnected from the crank shaft 5 asalready described; This lengthwise movement is given the shaft 11 by theengagement of the ratchet disk 17 with the inner end of the recess 16.shaft is moved in a direction to engage the crank shaft by means of theshaft 11. The outer end of the recess 16 is closed by a ring 30 whichkeeps the starting shaft and the shaft 11 together in the longitudinalsliding movement referred to. inasmuch as" the enlargement ll slidesback and forth in the casing when the starting shaft is duced portion 10of the starting shaft en- 55 suitable manner, either at the front or 70The starting l 0 0 coupled to or disconnected from the crank shaft, theratchet teeth 27 extend throughout the entire width of the cylindricalportion of the casing, in order that the dogs may remain in engagementtherewith.

In operation, the starting shaft 6 is coupled to the crank shaft bypushing forwardly on the-shaft 11 by means of the hand crank 13.After'th'e shafts, are coupled,tl1e hand crank is turned in a directionto rotate the crank shaft to start the engine. The motion of the handcrank is transmitted to the shaft 11, and through the levers 23 and thedogs 24 to the ratchet disk 17. Inasmuch as the ratchet disk is fast tothe starting shaft, and the latter is coupled to the crank shaft, itwill be evident that the latter is rotated upon turning the hand crankin the proper direction. During this movement of the parts, the dogs 25slip over the ratchet teeth 27. Inasmuch as the part on which theratchet teeth 27 are located is stationary, it will be seen that at theleast backward movement of the crank shaft, the teeth 27 will pressagainst the dogs 25, and by reason of the connection of the latter withthe lever 23, the latter will be swung on its pivot in a direction todisengage the dogs 24 from the teeth of the ratchet disk 17, thus atonce disconnectingthe 'shaft 11' of the hand crank from the startingshaft 6. The ratchet teeth 27 are set close together, so that therelease will take place ractically instantaneously, and danger of injuryto the operator when the engine kicks back is thus entirely eliminated.

, The device is reliable in operation, simple iii-construction, anddevoid of'complicated parts to get out of order, and it is capable ofuse in connection-witheither stationary, marine, or automobile engines.If applied to an automobile it may be mounted at the front or on theside of the machine according to the position of thecra-nk shaft. Byproviding the bearing hubs 20, and supporting the reduced end of thestarting shaft 6 in the shaft 11, a rigid support for the several partsis had. The levers and dogs carried thereby are entirely inclosed, andare therefore protected from dust and dirt.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. In a starting :device for internal combustion engines, a startingshaft, means for coupling the same to the engine crank shaft, a ratchetdisk carried by the starting shaft, a hand crank carrying a head havinga recess to receive the ratchet disk, a lever carried by the head, astationary cylindrical memberencircling the head and having its innersurface formed with ratchet teeth, and dogs carried by the aforesaidlever, one of, said dogs engaging the teeth of the ratchet disk, and theother dog the teeth of the stationary member.

2-. In a starting device for internal combustion engines, thecombination with a starting shaft, means for coupling the same .to theengine crank shaft, a ratchet disk carinto the recess, a lever pivotallymounted in the groove, a dog carried at one end of said lever andpassing through the opening into the recess into engagement with theteeth of the ratchet disk, a stationary cylindrical member encirclininterior surface formed with ratchet teeth, and a dog carried by theother end of the lever, and engaging the last-mentioned ratchet teeth.

' 3. In a starting device-for internal combustion engines, astartingshaft, means for coupling the same to the engine crank shaft, aratchet disk carried by the starting shaft, a hand crank, a shaft towhich said hand crank is connected, the last-mentioned shaft having anaxial opening in which one end of the starting shaft is mounted, a headon the shaftof .the hand crank, said head having a recess to receive theratchet disk, means for coupling the head to the ratchet disk, and meansfor automatically releasing said parts when the motion of the startingshaft is reversed.

t 4. In a starting device for internal combustion engines, a startingshaft, means for coupling the same to the engine crank shaft, a ratchetdisk carried .by the starting shaft, a shaft having an axial opening inwhich one end of the starting shaft is supported, and carrying a handcrank, and provided witha head having a recess to receive the aforesaidratchet disk, a stationary cylindrical member having internal ratchetteeth, heads secured to the ends ofsaid the head and having its member,said heads having hub extensions supporting the start-ing shaftand theshaft of the hand crank, means for coupling the aforesaid head to theratchet disk, and means engageable with the aforesaid inter-- nalratchet teeth for releasing the head from the ratchet disk when'thestarting shaft is reversed.

5, Ina starting device forinternal combustion engines, a starting shaft,means for coupling the shaft to the engine crank shaft, a ratchet diskcarried by the starting shaft, a hand crank, a shaft to which the handcrank is connected, the lastimentioned. shaft having an axial opening inwhich one end of the startin shaft is mounted, .a head on the shaft 0.the hand crank, and having 'motion of the a recess to receive theratchet disk, said head having a peri heral groove, and an openingextending rom said groove into therecess, a stationary cylindricalmember encirclingthe head,- and having internal ratchet-teeth, a leverpivotally mounted intermediate its ends in the aforesaid groove,

a dog carried by one end of said lever, and extending through theopening into engagement with the ratchet disk, and a dog car ried-hy theother end of the lever, and engaging the aforesaid internalratchetteeth.

6. In a starting devicefor internal coinbustion engines, astartingshaft, means for coupling the same to the engine crank shaft, a handcrank, a shaft carrying the hand crank, and havin an axial opening inwhich the starting sha t is supported, a support having hubs in whichthe starting and hand crank shaftsare supported, and means for couplingthe starting and crank shafts, and means for automatically releasingsaid 15 shafts when the motion of the starting shaft is reversed.

In testimony that .I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaffixed my signaturein the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. DICKEY. Witnesses:

/ ROY V. Ross,

E'rmin SHIER.

